" Wow," Laira breathes in my ear. I'm so absorbed by his words that the world around me disappears. For a brief moment, I forgot that she was even in the room. Mason has the ability to captivate my attention, even with something as plain and simple as a letter.
" Who knew that the famous philanderer Mason Kinnaird is so adorable," She swoons. I knew. And now I can't erase it from memory. No one will ever live up to the bar he has set. The man is a machine. I feel like a newborn calf, unsteady on my feet, disoriented. Mason on the other hand has probably had at four hours worth of work underway. Mother nature screwed women over when it bestowed on us these shitty genes.
It would be a lie if I'd say that the letter has made me feel better because it hasn't. It only reminded me of what I'm missing out.
Taking a deep shaky breath, I fold the letter and slide it back in the envelope for safekeeping. There will be more, and I intend to keep every single one of these tokens of affection. Maybe when we are old and grey, we will look back on it and reminisce on our time apart with a sense of nostalgia.
" So, you're awfully quiet for someone that just received a love letter," Laira notes and digs into the slice of chocolate cake.
" Don't you have classes?" I ask pointedly. My irritation is showing. Laira's brows furrow in concern at my sharp tone.
" I'm sorry," I deflate, shoulders sagging, one second away from crawling back into bed.
Laira sighs," It's alright. I'd be moody too, if I've had some cuckoo guy chasing my ass all over, and then Eric is quite literally wedged between your ass cheeks. Never mind everything else," She frantically gestures with her fork in the air nearly gouging my eye in the process.
" That kind of sums it up," I mumble forlorn.
" To answer your question, my first class starts at ten," She checks the wrist watch, " I still have two more hours, so I'm good," She takes another forkful of cake and stuffs it in her mouth.
" Have you spoken to David yet?" I decide to change topics, hopefully her disastrous love life will pull me out of this funk.
" You must be joking?" She chuckles, "There's nothing to talk about. He tried, but I put an end to it. There is nothing to speak about Lily. It was a lapse of judgment. I moved on, he moved into someone else's bed the first chance he got," Touchy subject. Laira's pinched brows tell me that she isn't exactly happy about it.
" Never pegged David to be such a lady's man," I muse out loud, and Laira laughs.
" He wasn't. Not until last year, when he sprouted a scruff and muscles. After that, it was a never-ending parade of nerds gone wild," That makes me laugh.
" How did that go?" Even though my mood has improved, Laira's has gone a bit cloudy.
" He soaked up the fame like blotting paper. It's hard not to, he is smart and dashing. Who wouldn't want to crawl into his bed? I most certainly did," She puff her cheeks blowing a heavy sigh.
" How was it?" I press on, curiosity rears its ugly head. She raises a curious brow and smirks.
" Tit for tat, Canim," We both laugh at her attempt to imitate Mason's velvety voice.
" Fine," I relent " You first," I never discussed intimate details with Laira, but I guess this is the next stage of our relationship. I trust her, and so far my trust in her hasn't been misplaced. Every detail I shared with her about Mason and I, has remained entombed in her mind. She gives another meaning to the saying,' sealed lips'.
She raises her fork, " I'm taking the last bite of cake for this," She spears the cake and shoves it into her mouth, taking her sweet time chewing, while moaning, and rolling her eyes. I get it, the cake is good, but the waiting is killing me.
" Give it up," I urge," It's chocolate cake Laira you won't be able to chew on it forever," I smirk and she rolls her eyes at me.
Swallowing, after what feels like hours, she smacks her lips, stalling some more, " He is good," She says sharply, making me wince. That is all? He is good.
" That's all you have to say?" I ask incredulously, " He is good," My voice goes up an octave higher. Laira scrunches her shoulders together at the shrill in my voice.
She nods, " I had better," I laugh, " Not once, I ever heard you mention another man, " How did I not know this?
" You're a hoe," I say jokingly, " And you said nothing. Jesus," We both laugh, tension leaving my body but also a sense of wariness creeps under my skin. I realise that Laira is too good at keeping secrets. What else is she hiding in that nugget of hers?
" Anyway," Laira sighs, " Your turn," She points a finger at me, smirking. Now, I feel less inclined to share intimate details of my life with Mason.
" Uhmm....right," I fumble, scrambling to say something but nothing that would decidedly reveal too many details, " He is loving, and knows what he is doing," I clamp my mouth shut before my mouth runs off on me, " But then again Mason is my first, so what do I know," I shrug, leaving it at that, because that is pretty much the equivalent of what she has given me. Which is diddly squat.
Laira hums, frowning, " It might be, but he has the stamp of approval of hundreds of women. He has been thoroughly vetted on the bedroom front. I'm surprised that his dick is still attached. It should have fallen off years ago from overuse," She cackles and I can't help but laugh at the wicked sound she just made.
But that doesn't ease the twinge of panic settling in my chest. I love Laira. I hope from the deepest part of my soul that my instincts are deceiving me. I don't think I'd cope very well if it turns out, that the only person I've put my unwavering trust in is nothing more than an illusory friendship.
" Hey," Laira slides her hand in mine over the table, " Are you alright? You spaced out a little, " I jolt out my short-lived reverie at the sound of her soothing voice. I want to believe that the pinch of her brows and the downturn of her mouth is of genuine concern. But still, I can't help but guard my soft underbelly a little more carefully now, than ever before.
" Yeah," I say, lacking conviction. And she sees it but stays silent.